3 weeks ago
IHE Expo 2026 crowns India's culinary champions in three competitions
India hosted a big food and hotel show called the India International Hospitality Expo in 2026.
The show also held three cooking contests where people competed to be the best in their field.
A pastry chef named Tisha Nair won the contest for the best woman pastry chef in India.
A baker named Faryaz Nozer Engineer won the contest for the best professional baker.
Two home cooks, Palak Jain and Lakshita Gupta, worked as a team and won the contest for cooking with besan, a flour made from chickpeas.
They won 25,000 rupees as a cash prize.
Tisha and Faryaz each get to travel to Malaysia to learn more and improve their skills.
The show lasted four days and brought chefs, hotel owners and food experts together.
More than 25,000 business visitors came to see the show, which helps find and celebrate talented cooks from all over India.
The 9th India International Hospitality Expo (IHE Expo) 2026 concluded in Greater Noida with three national culinary competitions crowning champions.
Tisha Nair of Ecole Ducasse ISH, Gurugram, won Valrhona Pastry Queen India 2026 for professional women pastry chefs.
Faryaz Nozer Engineer of the International School of French Baking & Patisserie (ISFBP) won the Kolb Master Bakers Challenge India 2026.
Home cooks Palak Jain and Lakshita Gupta won the AgroPure Culinary League 2026 - Battle of Besan and received a cash prize of Rs. 25,000.
Nair and Engineer will travel to Malaysia as part of prizes sponsored by Hammer Management & Marketing Services; the expo drew over 25,000 B2B visitors and 1,000+ brands.
- Who
- Tisha Nair, Faryaz Nozer Engineer, and home cooks Palak Jain and Lakshita Gupta were crowned champions of the three competitions.
- What
- Three national culinary competitions (pastry, baking and home cooking) concluded with winners announced at IHE Expo 2026.
- Where
- India Expo Centre & Mart, Greater Noida, India
- When
- 5-8 August 2026
- Why
- To create credible national platforms that recognise culinary talent, promote innovation and connect it with India's hospitality and foodservice industry.
Key facts
- Event
- 9th India International Hospitality Expo (IHE Expo) 2026
- Dates
- 5-8 August 2026
- Venue
- India Expo Centre & Mart, Greater Noida
- Valrhona Pastry Queen India 2026 winner
- Tisha Nair (Ecole Ducasse ISH, Gurugram)
- Kolb Master Bakers Challenge India 2026 winner
- Faryaz Nozer Engineer (ISFBP)
- AgroPure Culinary League - Battle of Besan winners
- Palak Jain and Lakshita Gupta (Rs. 25,000 cash prize)
- Winners' prize
- Four-day advanced pastry/baking training trip to Malaysia, sponsored by Hammer Management & Marketing Services
- Expo scale
- 25,000+ B2B visitors; 1,000+ exhibiting brands from 16+ countries; 100+ industry leaders
- Organisers
- IHE Expo 2026 and Hammer Management & Marketing Services in association with Bakery Review
Quotes
Rakesh Kumar
Chairman, India Exposition Mart Limited (IEML)
“These competitions were conceived with a clear vision - to create credible national platforms where talent is judged on skill, creativity and execution. The quality of competition this year was exceptional and demonstrated the evolving standards of India’s pastry, bakery and culinary sectors.”
freepressjournal.in
“The response to these competitions has once again demonstrated the incredible depth of culinary talent emerging from across the country. Platforms like these inspire excellence, encourage innovation and provide professionals with opportunities to benchmark their skills against the very best.”
freepressjournal.in
Sources
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